Here are a few pics and an explanation of our process.
When we purchased the house, the countertops were a gross yellow, and the tile was even worse. The floor was replaced right before we moved in, but we lived with the yuck colors for quite some time.
The first year we were here, the dishwasher broke, so we replaced it with a new black one, and we installed an over the range microwave to save counter space.
In 2009 my awesome husband rebuilt the countertops and used a much nicer laminate, and replaced the tile backsplash as well.
Sometime last year we installed some can lights in our living room, and replaced the one light in the center of the kitchen, with 4 can lights spread the length of the kitchen, finally I could see what I was cooking!Also last year the 30 year old fridge that came with the house finally started making 'I'm about to die' noises, so we replaced it with a huge black fridge that is most awesome. Every time I open it I am thankful my husband knows I like practical gifts!
The final step has been to do something with those 'lovely' 70s brown cabinets. We could not afford to replace them, so painting them was the best option.
The first step was cleaning and prepping. We wiped everything down with TSP to remove dirt, grease and whatever else was on them. Then we sanded them, filled any holes, and wiped them down again.
The painting process took about 2 weeks. We wanted to take our time, let each coat dry good, and let the paint sit before we messed with the doors too much.
For the kitchen, we painted the walls yellow first (and then later repainted because I didn't like the shade of yellow!). After this dried a few days, we used green Frog tape to tape off the walls and paint the bases of the cabinets.
The frog tape was slightly more expensive, and this was my first time using it, but let me just say - It is totally worth it! And read the directions if you use it, I was surprised at what they suggested!
The paint we used was the Behr Ultra, paint and primer in one. We did 2 coats on everything, with a touchup coat on the bases, and a top coat on the doors with a mixture of glaze mixed in.
After everything dried really well, we put the doors up and then waited for our new hardware to arrive. With all of it put together with hardware on the doors, I am really loving the finished product!
I really love how the countertop looks so much better with matching cabinets. Also, as a finishing touch instead of buying new hinges, we cleaned them up the old ones and spray painted them with a flat black paint (they were previously ugly brass).
The Verdict:
1. I love the new look, I love the gray color, and I love the hardware!
2. Paint durability: I am not sure how it will hold up. There are a few spots that got nicked when we were installing the hardware, etc. The spots are tiny but the paint seemed to come off a little too easy. I wonder how long it will last, even tho we prepped as much as possible. The good news is that it is a dark color on a dark color, and I can easily touch up the small spots.
So you might be asking, what does this have to do with vinyl lettering??? Well, the real finishing step would be to add a quote, verse or design to the soffit around the kitchen.
Does anyone have any suggestions???
